National Republican., 1887-02-09
THE HOUSE,

In the morning hour Mr.. Hammond, of
Georgia, on behalf OF the committee on ex-
penditures In the Department OF Justice,
called up the bill relating to compensation
OF United States attorneys, marshals, and
commissioners. 1t abolishes the fee sys-
TEN and substitutes the salary system OF
compensation.
Mr. Springer, of Illinois. in advocating
the bill, characterized the present system as
the worst system OF paying public officials
that could be devised. 1t offered premium
to officials 10 prosecute persons merely for
the sake OF getting compensation and not
for the purpose of enforcing the laws and
administering justice.
In the course of the debate, in which
Messrs. Symes, Hammond, Reed, Herbert,
Gibson, and Milliken participated, Mr..
Reed stated that he considered the bill 20 be
vicious In principle. Crimes against the
United States were of character which
community; aud 1t was necessary that the
United States officials should be stimulated
by similar self-interest to that which in
cited and sustained the criminal. II these
officers were placed upon salaries the result
would be an increase of evasions OF the law.
Pending action the morning hour ex.
pired.
Under the special order the floor was ac-
corded to the committee on foreign affairs,
and the House went into committee of the
whole (Mr. McMillin, of Tennessee, in the
chair) on the Senate bill to indemnify GER
tain subjects of the Chinese empire for
losses sustained by the violence OF mob
at Rock Springs, Wyoming territory, on
Sept. 9, 1855.
Mr.. Belmont briefly sketched the circum-
stances Of the massacre, dwelling upon the
necessity of the United States government
granting indemnity for the losses inflicted,
and he commended the action OF the Chi
nese authorities since this occurrence.
Mr.. Morrow, Of California, inquired
whether 1t was the purpose Of the commit
tee lin case this bill was passed) to call up
the bill restricting Chinese immigration.
Mr.. Belmont replied in the negative.
The Chinese government did not desire to
cmbarrass the relations between the two
nations by q continuance OF immigration,
and there was disposition to modify the
treaty so as to bring about results very
much more effective than could be secured
by legislation. With this assurance the
committee did not intend to bring up the
matter
After an interesting debate by Messrs.
Phelps, Clements, Daniel, McCreary, and
Morrow, the Senate bill was substi-
tutcd for the House bill, and as thus
amended the measure passed. The Senate
bill provides for the ascertainment OF the
losses incurred. The House bill proposed
to make direct appropriation of $l47,-
74S.
Mr.. Cox, of North Carolina, then called
up, and the House passed, the Senate bill
prohibiting the importation of opium into
the United States by any subject OF the
emperor Of China.
Mr.. Daniel, of Virginia, called up, and
the House passed, the bill to carry into effect
the international convention of March 4,
1884, for the protection of submarine
cables. [It makes the breaking of cable
willfully, or through culpable negligence,
misdemeanor, punishable by fine or i'm
prisonment
Mr.. McCreary, of Kentucky, called up
the bill authorizing the President of the
United States to arrangea conference for
the purpose Of promoting arbitration, aud
encouraging reciprocal commercial rela.
tions between the United States of America
and the republics Of South America and
the empire Of Brazil
Mr.. McCreary In advocating the bill com
mented upon the negligence on the part of
the United States in attempting to foster
friendly and reciprocal commercial relations
with her sister republics Of America, de-
claring, that that negligence was only
enterprise, civilization, and progress of the
countries of South America.
Mr.. Phelps, of New Jersey, congratulated
the friends OF peace and progress that the
bullet had not destroyed this measure
which had destroyed the administration
which inaugurated 1t. Six years ago, In
order to accomplish this same purpose, to
promote the system of arbitration, aud to
increase intercourse with the southern re-
publics, President Gar6eld's administration
had pursued the same course that was
pointed out In the bill
Mr.. Cox, OF North Carolina, thought that
the bill was without any practical effect.
Pending action the House, at 5 o'clock,
took recess until 7:30, the evening session
to be for the delivery OF eulogies upon the
late Representatives Beach, Dowdney, and
Arnot, OF New York.
EVENING SESSION.
The House met In evening session for the
consideration of resolutions expressive of
the esteem in which the House held the
memory Of the deceased representatives
from the state of New York, Messrs.
Arnot, Beach, and Dewdney. Addresses
eulogistio Of the public services and private
characters OF the deceased were delivered
by Messrs. Millard, Van Eaton, Felix Camp.
bell, Curtin, T. j. Campbell, Wilkins,
Bacon, Henderson, of Iowa; Viels, O'Neill,
Of Missouri; Wilson, and Scranton, and (at
n.n0l iha Hnuen nd inurnaH